Resilient tire for vehicles



Aug. 10, 1943. w. A. OWEN RESILIENT TIRE FOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 10, 1943. w A, OWEN 2,326,488

RESILIENT TIRE FOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 6, 1943 2 Sheets-$heet 2 r Patented Aug. 10, 1943 2,326,488 RESILIENTYTIRE ortvmnomss v William A. Owen, Johnson City, Tenn. V Application January 6, 1943, Serial No. 471,439

12 'Claims. (or. 152-297) UNITED STATES PATENT V 1 mm:

This invention relates to improvements inresillent wheels for all types of vehicles.

An object of the invention is the provision of a resilient wheel in which the usual wheel of-a vehicle is employed and to the rim of said wheel is applied a demountable tireof a resilient type in which a plurality of segmental units are secured to the rim of the wheel, with each unit including a pair of spaced V-shaped members, con-' nected together by coil springs, and with a covering housingthe associated u'nits,thetread portion of the tire being formed of rubber-impregnated fabric.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism as a substitute for the usual inflated tires of the present type in whicha plurality of springs provide the resiliency, with the springs being imbedded at the opposite end in spaced plastic members, a covering being employed not only preventingdust from collecting on the springs, but aiding injmaintaining the springs against distortion, the 'treadportion of the tire being formed of rubber-impregnated employedinthe device'shoWninFig.'6., I Referring more particularly to the drawings Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a tire with a portion of the cover removed. Fig." 3 is a transverse vertical-section of the tire.

Fig. 4 airagmentaryplan viewof the tops of segmental units 'shownin operative relation. 1

Fig. '5 is a view in perspective of a:;partof V shaped members, whichform th innerand outer portions of a segmental unit'of the tire. 1"

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical'sectionof another formofthe invention.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of aflv-shapedmember i0 generally designates a base member, which is circular and which is adapted to befmountedon the rim: of a vehicle Wheel; This base member is formedoian'y suitable material, particularly plastic, althoughthis base member may be formed of wood or metal-j Said basemember ha a semicircular passage H disposed between the rim l2 ofthe wheel, andinto the passage open pockets fabric, with the usual grooved tread surface tending upwardly along the sides of a cover hous ing the springs, and aiding in' preventing distortion of the springs, the tread portion which is connected to the covering being formed of rubber impregnated fabric, said tread portionbeing ar-- ranged in horizontal line transversely of the tread portion, so that thetir will present a fiat surface transversely ofthe road bed.

This invention will be best underst qd from a consideration of the following detailed description, in View of the accompanying drawings form ing a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not COD-.- fined to the disclosure, being susoeptibl of such changes and modifications as define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a. resilient tire constructed according to the principles of myinven tion.

13 which are providedfor the particular purpose 'of decreasing the'weight oi the base .member.

This base member-is provided with-annular ribs A plurality of Y-j'shapedfmembers generally designated by the numeral IEaresecured to the.

outer rim or periphery 16 of the basemember lllpForthis purpose'bolts' I7, having heads' lii, imbedded in the base member it], project above the upper surface of each member 15 with nuts l9 securing the V-s'haped members to the, rim

Ihe portionsof the legs iv shaped members are sheared off as shown at 21 where of the ribsl l 3 they engage the inner sides For each oi the V-sh apedmembers [5 which are secured to thebase member ii) there is a,cor,-" respondingV-shaped ,member 22, located outf-i wardly and in radial alinement with V -s:hap ed' member's ldas shown in 2 Naturally, the memberSZZ are slightly ,longer,idue to;theffact' that the .circumferenc'eflof the tireat the points wherelthe' V-shaped'members 2 l2larelocatedf is 1 greater than the circumference fof the, rim. 16

pf the base member. 10.; 'Each'oi they-shaped members 22 are provided withspaced interiorly 'threadedcap nuts 23', which are radially alined The cap nuts 23 are imbedded in the V-shaped members 22 and have their open ends opening into the interior of the tire. V

A rod 30 is adapted to have one end threaded into the cap nuts 23, and this rod extends through the passages 25 and 24. The rod is provided with a shoulder 3|, adapted to abut the inner periphery a wall of the passage II in the'base' member H3. Thlsirod is provided with a head 32, which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool for turning the rod. The purpose of the,

rod is to cause the V-shaped members 22 to be drawn inwardly, and a rod is located in certain of the cap nuts 23, interspaced at the periphery of the tire so that-all portions of the tread *portion of the tire may be drawn inwardly for a purpose which will be presently explained. However, i

these rods do not remain in place during the normal running of the tire, but are onlyused wheriiit is necessary to .makerepairs in the tire. A plurality of coil springs 35 connect the V-shaped members l5 with the V-shaped members 22. .Theouter ends of the-springs are imbedded i; thei material ofjt he V-shaped members 22,,while theinner ends of the springs are imbeddedTinthe.Vl shaped members l5. In other words when the vfshaped members I5 and 2-2 are mouldedthe ends of the springs are set in the plastic material, so that thev springs will be firmly fixedin position and threesprin gs conmeet one vi-sbeneqemh .15.,w a lo-Sh p member 22, to' form asegrnental unit, whichmay be removed f-rom the casing when worn by the removal i-the n i r bo 1 A pieceof fabric is applied to each wall of the tire as shown in Fig. 3; and this fabric is folded upon itself to form a pair of contacting-layers as shown at 36 and 31. The wire rim 38 is re}- ceived by the fold 39 of the fabric. This .fabric isapplied to both side s-of the tire with thefree ends of theifabricfbeing brought ov,er;;;the

VJ-S'hapedmembers withthe extreme free ends It .willrbe seen by thisiconstruction that;a cross sectionof the tire shows the tread in lineszalong with passage 24 in the V-shaped members 15 and g with passage 25 in the base member ID.

The outer surfaces of these rings are curved to conform to the curvature of the outer walls of the base member [0, as shown in Fig. 3, while a portion of the inner surface of each ring is flat as shown at 54 to conform to the flat surface 52 on base member I0; This ring is further modified at the inner wall to engage over the fabric 39 and the wire 38. These rings extend upwardly as shown at 55 and their inner flat surfaces engage the outer section 36 of the fabric covering. The portions 55 of the rings aid in preventing lateral distortion of the springs 35, particularly when the vehicle is rounding a corner.

If v.it is desired to remove any of the units composed of the V-shaped members I5, 22, and springs 35, itis only necessary to insert a sufiicient number of the rods 30 through the passages shown in Fig. 3, and when these rods are screwed sufiiciently into the cap nuts 23 the V-shaped members .22 .will be .pulled .in sufficienfly against the f'tens'ion ofthe springs. 135 .so that the cover fformed-bythestrips ofjfabric 3B and 31 may be removed (to remove. any injured unit. Q

..It will-be noted that bolts 611 are'ithreadedinto hu'tsffi I', whichare'im'bedded in the fabric of the \f/sha'ped .menibers 22- These bolts are inserted through passages in the depending portions .45 o'fithe cleats '44 for aidingfinl holding the rubberimpregnated' fabric]? in {po'sitionlon' the tire.

The formTshdwnTinlFigSLffi and .7 is substantially'the'same as that shown in Figs. 1165;1 clusive, with certain exceptions, 1and..these\except'ions' .will vbe 'po'mted' but and new. reference numbers will beemployed .forlthe different elements, but the same reference numerals will be employed iri'Ffigs. 6 and? .whichare .used inqFLigs 1 to '5 -incl'us"i.ve,. for the elements whichlarecommon to an, figures. IIInl other words, 'thebase member l El'is fforrned -0 any. suitable materlia'las horizontal planes entirely around the tire so-that the tire will present a broad :fiat surface transyersely' of -the same to the road bed; instead of-the usual rounded ortransversely curved type. Thus, all parts of the tread will be equally-exposed to theroad bedand provide an equal wearingsurface'at all times. r ring '50; which also maybe 'made of a plasticmat'eriahis secured to each side of the "base member by means'of bolts '5l, which"arejim "bedded in the base infember, and held securely against motion. These bolts project beyond: a flatsurface formed on the side walls of thebase member'fand' are-received 'by openingsfin the fringsf50. Nuts'53 secure the rings'to :thefba'se member;

has been explained. and Ithi's I .base member supports Ibolts n, .upon which are screwed nuts, .IB for ho ldi'ng,'the."V=shaped members 15, "Each 1V- shaped member isconnctedflto the;V shaped member 22 by the springs 35 toliormflremovab'le units of thet'ireg' 1 5 It wills begnoted that the 'lalbr'ic. covering, enerally des'ignated-j'bythe jn umeral'log consists 01' two strips. oi mate'rial lily and'JZ, which, are folded at t'oreceive-awire'ring'l l'g The strip of materi al fextend'pverthe top or outer. face of the v ishape'cfniembjers Q22 and, entirely. house the springsand yrshapedfmenibers 22. V

Aftreadiportionjwhich is formed of 'ILlbbelififi shown at T5 extends.entirlyaroundthe tir and is connected to astrip of fabric '75.. whichjin-Iturn isconnected totheper'ip'hery of .the septic-n11. of the ram-1c "70f It 'will'fbe .noted'that'lthe rubber material' l'i extends inwardly sshown at'llfialong the outer 'face'of Lthe portionfJ-I. lo'f "the fabric inate'rialTfl. f."

A pair of rings-1.3., are-connectedto thebliter portions of the side walls'Yoff the. base". member I 0 by means 'o'f E-IboltslTS; which are threaded into nuts'flilimbedizled inthe'jbase member} lThehead The outerperipl'ieries or theringsraiaslshown at 83" engage the. outer section Tl. of .the i'abric for aiding, .in maintaining the lhousing imposition.

' :Ir .desiredltheenutsI811 may .be,.pmvidedlwith integrally formed'lipsTW which are imbdde r'llin same purpose and therefore it will not be necessary to repeat this operation; f A tire constructed accordingto the present invention will give the necessary resiliency and will. give long wear. On the other'hand; it will be noted that the tread will actually contact' the ground or road bed with a consequent even wear throughout the tire so that with the wear evenly distributed transversely in the tir there will be little wear on the tread permile. Reinforcing wires 85 are imbedded in the material of the base member ID. a I o s A great number of plastics are manufactured today by various corporations throughout. the countrywhich may be used toform th vV-shaped members l and 22, and also the base member ID. One of these plastics is known underthe trade name Styron, made :by Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan. Another plastic .is made from cellulose by the Hercules Company, while still another plastic, known as 'Tenite, isv made by the Tennessee Eastment Corpo-rationof Kingsport, 'Iennessea i Tenite is a thermoplastic molding material made from cellulose esters. 7 Another product which could be used for'the elements noted above is th Wilmington Fibre made by Wilmington Fibre Company ofChica'go, Illinois, q i

I claim: 1. A. tire comprising plurality of V-shaped members spaced around the periphery of the rim, a V,-shaped member-.10

cated outwardly of each of thefirst-named V- shaped member, coil springs connecting pairs .of the first and second named members together, a

fabric covering enclosing the springs and connected V-shaped member, means securing the inner peripheries of the covering to the side. walls of therim, means securing the first-named members to the rim, and a rubber-impregnated fabric arim forming a base, a

thebute'r portion: of the covering to form the tread.

i lrA'tire comprising a rim to fit over. the rimofa wheel and" forming-the base or the the, a series of circumferentiallyarranged inner V'-' shaped members, a series .of circumferentially I arranged "outer p embers, each" outer member being: radially alined with'a respectivein ner member; means for securing the inner series of- V-shapedmembers to the rim,springssbetweeneach pair of the radially aligned innerand, outer, v-shaped'members, anend of each spring being :imbedded and securely fixed in the adja'cently'disposed V-shaped member, a'covering, housing the V-shaped members and springs and a-rubber-impregnated fabric secured to the covering to form thetread of the tire. a

.5. A tire comprising a rim to fit over the rim of a wheel andzforming'the base of the tire, a

series of 'circumferentially arranged inner .V-

.shapedmembers, a seriesof circumferentially arranged outer V-shaped members, each outer member being radially alined with a respective inner" member; .means for-securing the inner series of V-shaped members to the rim, springs between each pair of the radially aligned inner" and outer 'V-shaped members, an end of each 7 spring being imbeddedaand securely fixed in the .adjacently disposed V.-fshaped.'member,,a cover mg housing the V-shapedv members andsprings and a rubber-impregnated fabricsecured to the covering tooformthe tread of the tire the surface ofkthe tread throughoutgits width being cylindrical, thereby presenting abroad surface to the road bed. Q l

6. Atire comprising a rim to fit over the rim of a vehicle wheeland formingthe base of the tire,la-plurality of units'mounted circumferencemented to the outer portion of the coverin to 7 form the tread.

2. A tire comprising a rim forming a base,-a

plurality of V-shaped members spaced around the periphery of the rim, a V-shaped member-located outwardly of each of the first-named V-shaped.

ric cemented to the outer portion of the covering ,to form the tread.

3. A tire comprising a rim forming a base, a

tially on the rim, each unit consisting of a pair of .oveshaped .members one of .the members spaced outwardly, from .the other. member; and. j springs ccnnectingthe members together, means] securing theinner members to the outer periph-. cry of the base, a flexible housingcovering the,

V-shaped members and springs, means securing the housing to-the base, and arubber-impregnated fabric forming the tread portion of the plurality of V-shaped members spaced around therperiphery of the rim, a V-shaped member located outwardly of each of the first-named V- shaped member, coil springs'connecting pairsof the first and second-named members together, a fabric covering enclosing the springs and con-.

nected V-shaped member, means securing the innerperipheries of the covering to the side walls of the rim, means securing the first named mem bars to the rim, said V-shaped members being" curved to conform to the curvature of the rim, and a rubber impregnated fabric cemented to tire.

7. A tire comprising a rinrtofit overthe rim of a vehicle Wheel and forming the base of the tire, a plurality of units mounted circumferentially on the rim, each unit consisting of a pair,

of V-shaped members, one of' the members member for connecting'tlie members together,

means securingthe inner members toth'e outer periphery of the base, a flexible housing covering v 4' the V-shaped members and springs, means ;se-' curing the housing to thebase'. and arubber a impregnated fabric forming the tread portion of the tire,-

8. A tire comprising a rim to fit over the' rim g of a vehiclewheel andforrning the base of the tire, a plurality of units mounted circumferentiallyion the rim, each unit consisting of a pair of V-shapedmembers; one of the members} spaced outwardly from the other member, said. V-shaped members being'formed of molded a nd V hardened plasticjmaterial, and coil springs hav ing their ends setin the plasticmaterials of the adjacently disposed V.-shapedmembers so-that when the plastic has becomehard the springs will-be firmly secured and connect the members I 3 4 i 7 together, means securingrthe inner membersje the outer periphery of the'ba'se, a flexible housi- -ing covering the V-shaped members :and springs,

means securing the housing to, the ":base, vand'i'a rubber-impregnated fabric formingthe portion rof' the tire. l 1 a 9.-A tire comprising a rimto fitiover the tire ga V plurality of eunits mountedi circimrterem I tiallypn the rim, ea'chuunit consisting-afar hair of V-sha'p'edvmembers; one] of the members spaced outwardly from the other membenifmd springs connecting the members t ogethenimeans securing the inner members --to the outerxperiph ery of the base, ae-ilexible housing 'coveringlithe V -shaped members and "springs, means securing the housing to the base, and a'rubber-impregnated fabric formingbthe tread portion of the tire, the outer V-shaped members being aprovidetl with nuts, the inner V-shaped members and base having-aimed passages to receivesa thread ed tool which is inserted through thealined messages and screwed into the nut for drawingxan outer V-shaped member towards .anrassociated innermember against-the tension of. the .connecting springs. 1w

1 10. A tire-comprisingia rim .to fit overthe rim 7 of avehicle wheel and forming the base of-the tire, a plurality 10f units :mounted circumferentially cnthe rim, each .unit consisting of 1a :pair

of V-shaped members,1 one .of the membersspaced outwardly fromthe. otherr'm'eml'ier, and spring connecting the members together, means securing the inner members .to'the outer periphery of the base, a piece of fabric folded jupon itself to'form a circumferential housing with'side walls and an outer circularrwall-frestingon :the outer .V-shaLped member "for completely ienclos ing the assembled units, means securing theside wall rto the base, and a. rubber-impregnated fabric, forming. the tread portion of the tire.

cludingrside 'walls shaymgaport'ions located in the V grooves, rings having ribs :complemental to thegrooves and fitted therein, means. attaching the rings to the walls of the base for not only se 'curingtheiside wallsicf the housing to the'base but for'supporting sa-id side walls and the springs against lateral distortion beyond the o'uterp'eripher y of. the -:base, and a :rubber-hnpregnated fabric forming thetread portion of the tire.

12.:Atire com-prising -"a rim *to'fit over the rim of a. wehicle wheel and forming the base of the tirepaijphlrality of units mounted circumferen- (daily on the rim, each unit consisting of a pair of vi-shaped members, -on'e of *the 'm'embe'r's spaced outwardly from the other-member, and springs connecting theme'mbers together, means securing the inner members to the outer periphery of "the-base, a. folded fabric at each 'side v of'the assembled units with the free ends 0f the fabric extending over the outer V-shziped members and terminating at the circumferential "c'e'nter of the tread portion of the tire, means-tor retaming the ends -agbiinst riiov'eiirent, means for attachin'gfthefa'bri'c tothe .sides of the base,

said fabric coi'r'uilz-ztely housing the assembled units a nd aiding'a'n retaihing the *units in proper position, and a -rubber impre nated fabricformi'ng the tread portion of the tire. 

